Fire-protection system.



J. W. COX.

FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED MAY 9, 1913.

1305,5172 Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

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abl mm J. W. COX.

FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 9. I913.

1,205,517. v Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

2 $HEETSSHEET 2- I I III" H UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN W. COX, OF ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.

FIRE-PROTECTION SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 9, 1913. Serial No. 766,511.

Vania, have invented new and useful Improvements in F ire-Protection Systems, of which the following is a specification.

-This invention relates to fire protection systems and consists in certain improvements in the construction thereof as will be hereinafter fully described and pointed out readily controlled at points remote from the devices controlling the water in the water distributing system.

In the preferred form the invention relates to a system in which the distributing mains are normally dry and the apparatus is designed to turn the water into this normally dry system, indicate the hose boxes and also for indicating at the points from which the water is turned in the'fact that the controlling apparatus has been actuated.

The system also involves further devices in connection with this general scheme as will appear more fully from the specification and claims,

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings as follows Figure 1 shows an outline of the system of the controlling mechanisms. frontelevation, partly in' section showing th clock mechanism. Fig. 3 is a'side elevation of the same. Fig. 4 is/a central section through the cylinder controlling mechanism 1 for indicating the flow of water in the distributing" systeni. Fig. 5 is an enlarged view, partly in. section of the main gate valve and controlling mechanism therefor for the water system.

Water'is delivered from the main by way of the pipe 1. It passes the gate valve 2 and is accelerated or forced by the pump 3 and extends to the distributing system 4. A

and the hose box 7is provided usually containing a hose (not shown) in direct connection with the branch 5.

Fig. 2 is a Current is supplied from the generator 8 or any convenient source and is connected through the circuit formed by the wires 8 and'9. A branch line 10 extends from the line 9 to a light, ordinarily a white light 11. The circuit is continued through a line 12 by way of a switch 13, switch lever 14 and line 15 to the line 8 completing the circuit.

From this it will be seen that the light 11 is normally in circuit and indicates the position of a push button 16. WVhile but one of these is shown it will be understood that these are distributed and atconvenient locations;

The apparatus is set in motion by the push button 16. The switch controlled by the switch button is connected at one side by the line 17 with the line, 10 heretofore de-. scribed which connects this side of the button with the line 9. The opposite side of the button has a line 18 and this passes by a branch 18 through a magnetic coil v19 and thence by a line 20 closing the circuit with the line 8. As soon as the current is turned on through'this circuit, a latch 21 is drawn down by the magnet 19. This latch Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

27 with'the wire 10, thus closing one side of,

-the circuit with the line 9. The lever 23 is under the influence of a spring 26 which tendsto draw it forward so that when it .-is released by the'latch 21 the lever swings forward carrying the post 24 into contact with the post 28 and closing the circuit between the lines' 27 and 29. The line 30 is connected with the line 29 and connects to a solenoid 31, the return line 32 being connected with the line 33 which returns to the line 8 thus completing the circuit through the solenoid 31. The core 34 of the solenoid forms an extension of the stem of a gate valve 35 so that when thecurrent is turned through the solenoid, the valve 35 is opened turning the water from the main 1 through the pipe 36 into the passage 37 and thence to the cylinder 38. A piston 39 is arranged in the cylinder 38 and "connected by a stem v4O with the gate 41 of the gate valve 2. It will be observed, therefore, that as the water is turned on by way of the valve" 35 into the cylinder 38, the main gate valve 2 is opened thus turning water into the system. A stem 42 extends from the piston by means of which the gate valve may be closed.

In many systems it is desirable to accelerate the flow from the main. This is accomplished in the present device as follows :The line 28 heretofore referred to extends through a solenoid 43, the other side of the solenoid being connected with the line 33. In this way the circuit is closed through the solenoid upon the operation of the push button. The movable element of the solenoid is connected to a switch lever 44 of a rheostat, the switch lever passing over the contacts 45. One side of the rheostat is connected by a line 46 with the line 8 and the other side is connected by way of the lever 44 which is pivoted at 47 with a line 48. The line 48 is carried through a motor 49 and thence by way of a line 50 is connected with the line 9 thus completing the circuit.

. It will be readily seen that as the push button is operated the current is turned on through the circuit formed by the lines 29 and 33 by means of the switch 24 and the rheo'stat is operated starting themotor 49 and thus the pump which is of the ordinary rotary type. As the water is turned on a light 51 is turned in through the lines 52 and 53 connecting with the lines 29 and 33.

It is desirable When the device is thrown into operation that an alarm be carried to some point as desired, as for instance, the

oflice of the factory. This is supplied in the present system by the following mechanism:--The line 18 extending from one side of the push button is connected by a line 54 with the magnetic coils 55 and the circuit completed by the line 56 connecting the coil with the line 8. The armature 57 of the magnet forms a latch which is pii oted at 58 and whenoperated releases the switch lever 59. This switch lever is pivoted at 60 and has one side connected by a' line 61 through a battery 62 with an alarm bell 63,

the line 64 extending from the bell to a post 65. The lever 59 carries a post 66 .and when the latch 57 is operated the post 66 is thrown into contact with the post by the action of a spring 67 so that the circuit is closed through the battery and the alarm from the bell 63 is given.

.It is desirable that the person operating the push button should be assured that the mechanism controlling the water in the system has operated when the push button is actuated. This is accomplished in this apparatus as follows :--A pipe 68 is connected with the distributing system 4 and,therefore, has liquid under pressure or is dry depending upon the condition of the system, this pipe extending to a cylinder 69. The cylinder has the piston 70 from which exbands the rod 71. The rod 71 is connected with the yoke 71* and springs 72 are secured to the opposite ends of the yoke and the cylinder and tend to hold the piston normally in a lower position. The pin 73 extends from the yoke 71 through a slot 74 in the switch lever 14. The switch lever 14 is pivoted on a pin 75. This lever is normally in contact to close the switch 13 so as to maintain current in the light 11. When, however, water is turned into the system 4 it passes by way of the pipe 68 to the cylinder 69 and operating on the piston 70 forces the yoke 71 upwardly and thus one end of the lever 14 upwardly. This throws the switch controlled by the opposite end of the lever out of contact thus cutting ofi the current from the light 11 and closing the circuit through the post 76. The post 76 is connect- 'ed by a wire 77 with a light 78, preferably of different color from the light 11, and the opposite side of the light is connected by the line 10 with the line 9. The circuit is completed from the post 76 through the switch lever'14, line 15 with the line 8. It will be readily seen, therefore, that the operator pushing the button 16 is almost instantly apprised of the action of the controlling mechanism. If it has operated the white light 11 is extinguished and the light 78 turned on. If, however, the water has not been turned into the line this change does not take place and the person operating the button is apprised of this fact.

It is desirable to supplement this indicating mechanism with an alarm which will be operative in case the controlling mechanism fails to turn on the water upon the operation of the push button. The reason for this is that if there is such failure on the part of the automatic mechanism operators adjacent to the valves on the main line may manually turn" on the water. It is desirable ordinarily that this alarm shall not be given provided the water is turned in through the apparatus. To accomplish this purpose, I

have provided the following mechanism blades are carried by a shaft'84, the shaft being journaled in a frame 85. The pinion 86 is fixed on the shaft 84wand meshes-a gear 87. The gear 87 is journaled on a shaft 88, the shaft having a squared end 88 by means of which it may be actuated by a key. The shaft has a ratchet wheel 89 fixed omit, the ratchet wheel being locked against The armature 81 of movement in one direction by a pawl 90 pressed into engagement by the spring 91. The spring 92 has one end attached to the shaft 88 in the usual manner and the opposite end to the wheel 89. The spring may be wound up in the usual manner, the ratchet wheel locking it against unwinding in one direction and the latch82 normally locking it against movement in the opposite direction. A contact post 93 is carried by the wheel 89 and is adapted to engage a post 94. The post 94 is connected by a wire 95 with a gong 96, the opposite side of the gong being connected by thewire 97 with the wire 9. The line 98 is connected by the shaft 88 with a post 99 which is normally in contact with the switch lever 14.

The normal position of the contact lug 93 is such that it requires considerable travel before it comes into contact with the post 94. This interval is so arranged with the retarding device and the distance that the lug 93 must travel to permit the water passing by the pipe 68 to enter the cylinder 69 in throwing the water into the system and to operate the switch lever 14. If, therefore, the water is turned on by the operation of the mechanism described when the push button is actuated it will reach the cylinder 69 throwing the switch 14 out of contact with the post 99 and thus break the circuit with the gong 96 prior to the time the lug 93 reaches the post 9i. If, therefore, the apparatus operates there will be no alarm from the gong 96 but if the apparatus turning in thewater fails to operate then the lug 93 coming into contact with thepost 94 will close the circuit through the gong 96 and give the alarm-for the pur- What I claimas new is 1. In a fire protection system, the combination of'a water distributing system; devices controlling the flow in said system; an electric apparatuscontrolling said devices; a switchcontrolling the electric ap paratus; and an indicator observable at the switch controlled by the flow of water in the system indicating the operation of said devices.

2. In a fire protection system, the combination of a normally dry water distributingsystem; devices controlling the flow in said system; 'an electric apparatus controlling said devices; a switch controlling the electric apparatus; and an'indicator observable at the switch controlled by the flow of water in the system indicating the operation of said devices.

3. In a fireprot ection system, thecombination of a water distributing system; a pump influencingv the flow of water in the system; an electric apparatus controlling the action of said pump; a switch controlling the electric apparatus; and an indicator observable at the switch controlled by the flow of water in the system indicating the operation of said devices.

4. In a fire protection system, the combination of a water distributing system; a pump influencingthe flow of water in the system; a valve controlling the flow of water in the system; an electric apparatus controlling said pump and valve; a switch controlling the electric apparatus; and an indicator observable at the switch and controlled by the flow of water in the systemindicating the valve.

5. In a fire protection system, the combination of a water distributing system; de-

operation of said pump and vices controlling the flow of water in said system; an electric apparatus controlling said devices; a switch controlling the electric apparatus; an indicator observable at the switch comprising a motor connected with the system and adapted to be actuated by the water from the system; and an electric signaling device actuated by the motor.

6. In a fire protection system, the combination of a water distributing system; devices controlling the, flow in said system; an electric apparatus controlling said de' vices, said electric apparatus comprising an actuating switch; 'a light adjacent to said switch; and a water motor connected with said devices; an alarm; and means,actuat-- ing'jsaid alarm when said apparatus is ac mated with a failure of the operation of said devices and means for preventing the operation of said alarm upon the operation of said devices.

9. In a fire protection system, the combination of a water distributing system; de-

vices controlling the flow of water in said system; an electric apparatus controlling said devices; an mdicator controlled by the flow of water in the system indicating the operation of said devices; and an alarm controlled by said indicator and operating upon the failure to act of said, devices with the operation of said apparatus.

10. In a fire protectionsystem, the combination of awater distributing system; de-

vicescontrolling the flow of water in said safy system; an electric apparatus controlling In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 10 said devices; a motor connected with the my hand in the presence of two subscribing system; mechanism for throwing in an witnesses.

alarm; means controlled by the motor for preventing an alarm througn said mecha- JOHN W. COX. nism when said motor is actuated; and a retarding device operating in connection \Vitnesses:

with said mechanism to prevent its action B. M. I'IARTMAN,

prior to the normal operation of the motor. H. C. LORD. 

